Toward a more diverse and inclusive Metro workforce

The Metro Nashville government is a major employer, with some 10,000 workers, and city leaders have ambitions to create diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces within each department.

Yet a new report on the demographics and wages of city employees finds communities of color are still underrepresented within the Metro workforce, and that there’s a pay gap in which white, male leaders are typically paid more than people of color and women.

These findings aren’t new. The Metro Human Relations Commission began putting out its “IncluCivics” reports in 2015, and has consistently found challenges in creating a workforce that reflects the population of Nashville.

Today, we’ll hear from the author of the report and former Metro leaders who have pushed for equitable and inclusive policies and programs. We’ll also look beyond the city government for insights from experts who have led corporate DEI initiatives.

You can find the full “IncluCivics” report online here, and you can engage with the findings at upcoming community conversations, all happening at 6 p.m.:

• Tuesday, May 30 at Southeast Community Center, 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway #202, Antioch
• Monday, June 5 at Madison Community Center, 550 N. Dupont. Ave., Madison
• Monday, June 12 at McCabe Community Center, 101 46th Ave. N., Nashville

To begin today’s show, we’ll first hear the latest about Tennessee’s third-grade retention law, which has caused stress for many families in recent days, as they review test scores that will determine whether students advance to fourth grade. Rachel Wegner, the children’s reporter for The Tennessean, will join us.

This episode was produced by Tony Gonzalez. 

Guests:

• Ashley Bachelder, Metro Human Relations Commission Director of Policy and Research
• Mel Fowler-Green, former Metro Human Relations Commission director and attorney with Yezbak Law
• Alisa Franklin, retired 911 dispatcher with Davidson County Emergency Communications and recording secretary with the employee union SEIU Local 205
• Jacky Akbari, founder and managing principal at Worthington Advisory
• Nikki Smith-Bartley, vice president and associate general counsel for Asurion